Wetland Management
New Open Source ConserveOnline Helps Conservationists Build on Each Other's Successes
Source: The Nature Conservancy; www.ConserveOnline.org
Launch Date: May 5, 2008
At www.ConserveOnline.org, The Nature Conservancy has launched a complete overhaul of the free online tools supporting knowledge-flow and coordination between environment and conservation efforts around the world.
The new ConserveOnline provides a global system for conservationists to effectively identify and build on lessons-learned from similar approaches, helping them innovate and scale smartly to keep pace with the escalating rate of ecological challenges such as greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss worldwide.
Not only does ConserveOnline innovate for professional conservationists, but with investment from Oracle and more than a year’s web programming by original developers of the open source Plone platform, it also explores how IT can support conservation of nature, and how nature can help IT evolve. In this case, the code enhancements to be released by the Plone Foundation reportedly including significant new ability to detach front-end user interface design from back-end data and admin structures, integration with Creative Commons functionality, and more.
The new ConserveOnline allows conservationists anywhere to easily manage their local knowledge flow, via free and fast coordination and document management tools; identify other individuals and organizations who are doing similar work; grow the existing global library of conservation tools, techniques, and experiences; discuss how and where to channel resources for the greatest conservation impact; and share successes and failures to ensure that proven strategies – not failed approaches – are repeated and strengthened.
ConserveOnline is interesting in that it adheres to data norms of the Conservation Commons, while still pushing the open source approach for enabling solutions to keep pace with environmental problems worldwide.
Those familiar with ConserveOnline will notice the improved speed and ease of use of the new version, which includes many new features, including:
- Improved user-interface
- Google search engine
- Reliable, secure, fast performance
- Streamlined process for creating and customizing collaborative workspaces
- Powerful new ways to organize workspace content
- Simplified security settings
- Easy to use calendars and discussion groups
- Easy to sort and browse workspaces, library documents
- Improved electronic publishing tools
Please contact Jonathan Adams (jadams@tnc.org) with any questions, or to schedule an online demo for your office or team.
